This Chicken Tetrazzini Recipe is a comforting, supremely creamy, and cheesy pasta bake loaded with tender chicken and plump mushrooms. This meal is a crowd-favorite casserole dish perfect for casual family dinners, holiday potluck parties, bringing a meal to a new mother, and every occasion in between. Watch the video below to see how simple it is!
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Helpful Reader Review
“Excellent recipe! Creamy and cheesy in perfect combination also simple to put together makes it a winner” – Janet ★★★★★
Easy Chicken Tetrazzini Recipe
Classic chicken tetrazzini has been around forever and for good reason! It’s ridiculously good, easy to prepare, kid-friendly and reheats well. It’s sometimes made with soup flavor packets or canned soup, but my friends, you don’t need those to make this flavorful meal. I based this winning recipe on my popular Chicken and Mushroom Casserole recipe. The simple ingredients add all the creamy delicious flavor, and it’s nice to know there aren’t any mystery ingredients in the dish.
When you bake this Chicken Tetrazzini pasta casserole, some of the sauce bakes into the pasta, the flavors marry and [!!BAM!!] something wonderful happens. You’ll know what I mean when you try it. P.S. you can further simplify this by using rotisserie chicken – You’re welcome ‘ma friends :).
This Chicken Tetrazzini is one of my most popular pasta dishes, along with my Cajun Chicken Pasta, American Goulash, and Lasagna.
Chicken Tetrazzini Video
If you’re looking for a crowd-pleasing, easy meal for dinner tonight, you’ll love this Chicken Tetrazzini! Watch how easily Natasha turns these simple ingredients into an incredibly creamy pasta casserole.
Ingredients for Chicken Tetrazzini
These ingredients for Chicken Tetrazzini are simple fridge and pantry staples that combine in the perfect way.
- Pasta – I’ve made this with linquine and thin spaghetti, but you I used thin spaghetti, but you can use your favorite noodles.
- Shredded chicken – I like using 4 cups of shredded rotisserie chicken to keep it simple, but you can cook the chicken breast (instructions below). Light or dark meat will work here.
- Mushrooms – White mushrooms are nice for their neutral color. Rinse (yes, it’s ok to rinse mushrooms for sauteeing) and dry the mushrooms, then slice thickly.
- Aromatics – onion and garlic add great flavor to the sauce.
- For the Roux – You’ll need butter and flour, which thicken the sauce.
- Chicken Broth – I opt for low-sodium chicken broth for tetrazzini. Regular chicken broth is ok, but go easy on the salt and add more to taste when making the sauce.
- To Build Flavor – salt, pepper, parsley, and lemon juice help brighten up the casserole.
- Half and Half – You can also make your own by substituting equal parts milk and heavy cream.
- Cheese – Mozzarella cheese is my favorite to use here. The cheese seals in the moisture in the casserole.
Pick the Correct Pasta
Skip the value-brand pasta or pasta that is mass-produced like Barilla for this recipe since it can absorb too much water and seem mushy or dry. Choose bronze-cut, higher-quality pasta made with hardier Durum wheat semolina flour that will stand up to baking (these are easily found in your grocery aisle, like De Cecco, Rustichella d’Abruzzo, Garofalo, Liguori, and others).
Variations for Chicken Tetrazzini
- Protein – swap leftover turkey, or even tuna for the baked chicken breast
- Veggies – You can easily substitute the mushrooms and dice up your favorite veggie to add with the onion. Try sauteed red peppers, steamed broccoli florets, artichoke hearts, fresh spinach, or frozen carrot/pea mix.
- Cheese – experiment with other cheeses like Havarti, cheddar, Monterey Jack, or pepper jack. Or you could add a sprinkle of parmesan cheese on top.
How to Make Chicken Tetrazzini
Traditionally, tetrazzini is made in a 13×9″ casserole dish, but it can also be done entirely using a Dutch oven so it can go from the stove to the oven saving you some dishes.
- Preheat oven to 350˚F and then grease your baking dish if using (9×13 baking dish, or two 9″ squares). **If cooking the chicken breasts instead of using rotisserie chicken, see my directions below for prepping the chicken.
- Cook Pasta in salted water until barely al dente. The pasta will continue to cook when in the oven, so don’t overcook it here. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, and then drain the rest and set the pasta aside.
Natasha’s Pro Tip:
Salting the pasta water is so important for taste, but also for texture. Well-salted pasta water should taste like the ocean (about 1 Tbsp for 4 quarts of water).
- Saute the veggies – Soften the mushrooms with some olive oil then add the onions and saute until golden (5 minutes). Finally, add garlic and cook another minute then transfer the mixture to a plate.
- Make the sauce in the same skillet as cooking the veggies. Melt the butter and then add the flour, whisking for 1-2 minutes to get rid of the flour taste. It should look golden and smell a bit nutty. While whisking, slowly drizzle in the chicken broth then lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.
- Combine the Casserole – into the pot with the drained pasta, add chicken, veggies, pasta, sauce and stir together. I like to add about 1/4 cup of the reserved pasta water for a creamier sauce. Spread into the buttered casserole and sprinkle with the cheese.
- Bake covered in foil or a lid in the oven for 20 minutes, and then remove the foil and cook another 15 minutes. For a crispier topping, broil for a minute or two. Serve!
Helpful Reader Review
“Made this tonight.Yum! Delish! Hubby and I both loved it. Put in 2 8×8 pans. Baked one froze other for another quick easy weekday meal“ – Karen ★★★★★
How to Cook Chicken Breast for Pasta Casseroles
It’s easy to substitute the rotisserie chicken in this chicken tetrazzini recipe for chopped chicken breast. You can use baked chicken breast or sautee 1 1/2 lbs of chicken breast. If the chicken breasts are very large, you can cut them in half crosswise for faster cooking.
- Add 1 Tbsp of oil in a large Dutch oven pot (I can use this same pot to make the veggies and sauce and cook the casserole- Easier cleanup!)
- Sprinkle salt and pepper over both sides of the chicken breasts and sautee about 4-5 minutes per side or until golden brown and cooked through to 165˚F on a thermometer. Chop into 1″ pieces. Proceed to the recipe!
Make-Ahead and Storage Tips
It’s simple to serve Chicken Tetrazzini ahead and also to store leftovers. This is one of my favorites to bring to friends or freeze for another night.
- Make-Ahead: Mix the casserole and place it in a freezer-safe, oven-safe dish, but don’t top it with cheese. Store in the fridge for 5 days or in the freezer for 6 months. When ready to serve, thaw in the fridge overnight, top with cheese and cook. You may have to add a few minutes to the bake time.
- To Refrigerate: Allow leftovers to cool completely, then cover and store in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freezing: Cover and freeze cooled leftovers for up to 6 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
- To Reheat: Place casserole covered in a 350°F oven for 15 minutes or until warmed through.
What to Serve with Chicken Tetrazzini
The best part about making casseroles is that they hit all the major food groups for a complete meal. Whip up this chicken tetrazzini recipe and include one of these quick side dishes for a filling and nutritious meal.
- Sourdough Bread
- Roasted Cauliflower
- Caesar Salad
- Maroulosalata – Greek Lettuce Salad
- Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad
- Roasted Broccoli
- Tomato Cucumber Mozarella Salad
My Chicken Tetrazzini recipe will quickly become your favorite! It’s satisfying, easy to make, crowd-pleasing, and most importantly, creamy and cheesy. The pasta casserole is the perfect dish for family dinner, but travels well in a casserole dish to share with friends. Make this classic dish today!
Chicken Tetrazzini Recipe
Ingredients
For the Chicken Tetrazzini:
- 12 oz linguine, or spaghetti*
- 4 cups rotisserie chicken, shredded or diced, or cook 1.5 lbs of chicken breast*
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb button mushrooms, thickly sliced
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
For the Creamy Sauce:
- 4 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- 2 cups half & half, or sub with equal parts milk & heavy cream
- 1 1/2 tsp sea salt, plus more to taste
- 1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
- 1/4 cup parsley, chopped, plus more to garnish
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven to 350˚F and butter a 9×13 Casserole dish.
- Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water (it should taste like ocean water) and cook until barely al dente according to package instructions – do not overcook. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta, partially cover, and set aside.
- Saute the Veggies: Place a large skillet over medium/high heat. Add oil then add sliced mushrooms and sauté 3 min or until softened. Add diced onions and cook until onions are soft and golden, 5-7 min. Add minced garlic and sauté another 1 min until fragrant. Transfer to the cutting board with chicken.
- Make the Sauce: In the same pot, melt butter and whisk in flour until lightly golden (1 1/2 min). Slowly whisk in chicken broth, lemon juice, salt, and pepper and whisk until smooth. Add half and half and bring to a simmer. Season the sauce with more salt and pepper to taste.
- Combine the Casserole: Into the pasta pot, add the chicken, mushrooms mixture, parsley, and all of your sauce. Stir to combine. You can add 1/2 cup of reserved pasta water to make it saucier then spread it evenly into your prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle the top generously with mozzarella.
- To Bake: Cover with foil and bake at 350˚F for 20 min, then remove the lid and continue baking for 15 min. You can broil for the last 1-2 minutes to get some golden spots on top.
Notes
*To cook your own chicken: in your dutch oven or pot, add 1 Tbsp oil over medium-high heat. Season 1.5 lbs chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Saute chicken until golden brown on both sides and cooked through (about 4 min per side). If chicken breasts are very large, cut them in half lengthwise for even cooking. Remove to cutting board to cool, then cut into bite-sized pieces. Make Ahead and Storage
- Make Ahead – assemble the casserole, but cover and store in the fridge for 5 days or the freezer for up to 6 months before baking. Thaw in the fridge overnight and then add cheese and cook as directed.
- Leftovers – allow leftovers to cool completely, then cover and store in the refrigerator for 5 days or freeze for up to 6 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and then warm in a 350°F oven until heated through.
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
More Casserole Recipes
Casserole dishes like Chicken Tetrazzini are fantastic dishes to feed a family. You’ll love these great recipes:
- Stuffed Shells
- Chicken Pot Pie Casserole
- Baked Tilapia and Vegetable Casserole
- Mexican Beef and Rice Skillet
- Green Bean Casserole
- Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole
- Baked Ziti Recipe
- Meatballs Parmesan Casserole
- Chicken Orzo Bake
Can you assemble this and put in refrigerator overnight and bake the next day?
Hi Lynne, I haven’t tested it in the fridge a day before baking so I can’t advise however I think you could freeze it before baking the recipe and then thaw in the fridge and bake or bake longer out of the freezer. I haven’t tested this so I can’t give you exact baking times. Let me know how it works out
can u make this with leftover turkey?
Hi Yana! That should work! Here is what one of the readers said “Made it for my Family tonight with leftover turkey! They loved it! I added some steamed Broccoli to it to sneak some veggies in!”
Made this tonight and it was awesome! Just wondering if you can freeze in containers for boys going back to University?
Hi Linda, One of our readers did report great results freezing this in individual serving containers, so it is a freezer friendly dinner recipe!”
DELISH! Your best dish yet. I only used half the mushrooms coz hubby not a fan of them but it turned out really good with the half.
Awww that’s the best! Thank you so much for sharing that with me :). I’m all smiles!
Oh my goodness! So yummy! I skipped the mushrooms (due to my crazy hatred of them), added some peas and some parmesan to the top and it is perfect!! Thank you!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the wonderful review!
I am making this recipe using leftover turkey from Thanksgiving! I know everyone will love it for its creamy cheesy goodness!
I hope you love it!!
Well, much to my surprise, by the time I got to making the tetrazzini with leftover turkey, the turkey was all GONE! Yay! So I made it with chicken after all! This was a really big hit! My youngest son, still at home, loved taking this for lunch – he works full-time at a machine shop as an apprentice machinist. Buying lunch out every day can be expensive! Whole casserole gone in under 48 hours, easy! Will make in a much larger batch again! NOTE: I will break, or cut the spaghetti – or choose a different noodle. Not a complaint, but a preference. Too difficult to eat without cutting the spaghetti. Thank you for all your amazing recipes that we have enjoyed for a couple of years now! Merry Christmas to you, and yours.
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it! Thank you for sharing this with us. Merry Christmas, Elaine!
Made it for my Family tonight with leftover turkey! They loved it! I added some steamed Broccoli to it to sneak some veggies in!
#dadsthatcook
That sounds delicious! Love the hashtag! Thank you for that great review, Randy!!
This was the best tetrazzini I’ve ever had! I made it with leftover turkey from Thanksgiving. The only thing I changed was adding some ground sage to give it that Thanksgiving flavor. Thank you for a great recipe that I will be making for a long time! This is a great meal to bring to friend!
Thank you for that great review, Jennifer!!
Oh my stars! This is incredible! We had leftover turkey from Thanksgiving so I used that. I followed the recipe exactly except that I added a little ground sage for that Thanksgiving flavor. It was amazing! Thank you so much!!! This will be my go tetrazzini recipe from now on!
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review!
recipe calls for 1/3 cup flour but you say you need 1/2 cup flour, 1/3 cup is too much flour with 4tbs butter when cooking. Make sure you are using leveled measuring spoons and not heaping Tbsp’s. I hope that helps!
Hi, I don’t see anywhere where I said 1/2 cup flour – please let me know where and I will fix it asap. I’m seeing 1/3 cup everywhere which is correct and works with 4 Tbsp butter.
Natasia, did I hear you correctly in your video to stir in 1/4 C of flour to the 4 Tbls of butter? I just watched your video again, I backed it up and listened again and it sounds like you say 1/4 C of flour – perhaps this is where the flour confusion comes from?
Hi Elaine! You are absolutely right! I totally said 1/4 but it’s 1/3. I wish I could fix a verbal typo! 🙂 It will work either way but yes 1/3 cup is correct.
First time on your site & loved the look of this dish. I tried it and it tasted fantastic!! Will definitely be making this again.
That’s so great! I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!
Hi Natasha,
You don’t break up your pasta at all for this recipe? You cook it as whole?
Hi Olga. Yes, we cook it whole. 🙂
Dear NATASHA. I COOKED THIS WONDERFUL TETRAZZINI.. IT WAS AMAZING.TANX
I’m so so happy to hear that! Thank you for this awesome review!!
dear Natasha cooked this wonderful dish… It was amazing..tanx.
You’re so welcome! I’m happy you liked it!
This recipe was delicious. I made it for the first time for company and we loved it. I put mine in a 9 X 13 casserole.
That’s so great Janet! Thank you for sharing this with me!!
I see lots of comments about freezing, but can I assemble this ahead of time, refrigerate it, and bake tomorrow?
Hi Chris. We have baked it directly after assembling so I can’t say. However if it sits for a while after assembling it may get soggy, in the refrigerator included. If you go that rout and experiment I would love to know how you like it!
Hi Natasha:
Thanks I was able to use the Pinterest link you sent to save the chicken tettrazini! Looking forward to trying it!
Judy
That’s so great!! Thank you for the great review!
Hello Natasha. Can I use Monterey jack cheese instead of Mazzarella because that’s the only kind of cheese I have on hand. Thanks.
Hi Tanya, Monterey Jack gives you a slightly different flavor profile but should work fine as a substitute. 🙂
Natasha, are you going to put together some of your most popular recipes in a cookbook by Christmas time. I am curious to buy some as gifts. Also would like to get your recommendation for knife set. Looking to get some soon. Other than that, I will for sure be making this today.
Thanks
Hi Jorge. Defintily stay tuned! We will make announcements once we’re ready. Thanks for the awesome review. We love these knives here.
Natasha I make so many of your recipes for my family and they love them all. You have made me a better cook! I’m so envious of your gorgeous new kitchen!!
Aww you are so nice, Lisa! Thank you so much for sharing this with me.